The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1887-12-21
his nephews and niecss would ask for her
and talk about her, despite the admoni-
tons they had received to the contrary.

AS he was busy with his thoughts. gazing
the while moodily into the fire, and now
and then punching up the fore-sticks in q
spiteful sort of way, Grandma Botsworth
suddenly spoke up and said:
"To- morrer'll be another white Christ
mas. This makes two on 'em right hand
runnin'. Three years ago was mighty
mild winter, and we had green Christmas
| that year.
Here the old lady paused and heaved q
sigh. No one said anything, and she con-
tinued: 81 recolleck now there was more
buryin's that year in the Bald Hill buryin'
groun' than there has been since, all put
together"
fectively, "a green Christmas alters makes
fat graveyard. they say, an 1 never
knowed it to fail"
81 reckon it'll be good sleighin' to-mor-
rer," observed Uncle Billy, IAN all the
folksn come over in the bobs- Eth!
what's that?"
The exclamation with which he con-
cluded his remark was caused by the furi-
Gus barking of old MAZE" the watch dog,
the sound of voices in the front yard, and
what seemed to be the cry of child in fear.
The two boys started for the front door,
while the remainder of the family sat in
tently listening, and wondering who could
be their visitors. They had not long to
wait; for minute later the sitting room
door was flung open and Jacob strobe in,
bearing in his arms bright and lusty two
year old boy. Almost snatching the wraps
from about it, and holding the little fellow
up, he shouted: Pap, look at your
grandson; Filsey's come, an this Is her
boy ~
springing to his feet, with a face as black
as thunder cloud. Take him away;
don't want ter see him"
Hold on minute" shouted a clear,
strong voice in the doorway. 1t was the
son in law who had spoken, and who now
stepped into the room, his figure erect and
his eyes blazing with anger. Hold on a
minute, / say, he continued 81 want q
word. Bill Botsworh. l can buy an sell
you. l am rich man, but you don't have
10 own me for son-in-law on that &C
count. As for me. can get along without
you. But Mary here wanted to come back
and see her mother and all of you once
more, and L said she should; and, more
than that, / said you should treat her and
baby right, or I'd make you; and, by thun-
der, I'll do it! Understand me- | ask no
favors for myself, but for this poor girl
here, that you've treated so mean, and who
still loves you, but who wants to come
home, only for little while, l will
speak for, and fight for, too,
if necessary" Even while he was
talking mother and daughter were
weeping in each others embrace, and
Grandma Botsworth, rising with difficulty
from her seat, laid her hand on her sons
shoulder. William" she said, "now's as
good time to give in as yell ever have.
Ii Mary an Will can afford to forgive
you, / don't see how you can help fergivin'
them. Come now, son, do right"
For an instant he stood struggling with
his passion, then loye conquered. Ex-
tending his hand 10 his son-in-l law, he
said: Billy, knock under; I've made q
mistake an am sorry for it. Daughter,
come here"
With glad cry Mary put her arms about
his neck and kissed him again and again.